A/n: Hey everyone so this is going to be the last chapter for this story. I plan on writing an epilogue that will lead into the Sequel, but I think this first part of their story has reached its end. Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to follow this story and for all the wonderful reviews, follows and favs that i've gotten. It's been really wonderful and it has meant a lot! I hope you all enjoy this final chapter and I hope you'll still be interested in the sequel. Thank you! And thank you to RubberDuckiez as always for Beta-ing for me and to RubberDuckiez, Yasmina1 and XKaminix for the reviews.
Something's wrong.
She felt it deep within her. A desperate cry, so urgent it woke her from her sleep. Kate stared blankly at the rumpled sheets, the early morning light turning them a faint shade of gold. She couldn't go back to sleep now.
Something is wrong.
You just miss him, she told herself, reaching out to touch the sheets that had long since gone cold, devoid of their other occupant.
Her thoughts drifted to the night before, of reverent kisses, his hands gripping her thighs, whispered affections. Kate was no virgin, but it was clear to her now why elves viewed love making as bonding, the act of marriage. Last night was different. But last night was a memory. He was gone now.
I love you.
I love you too. Please come back to me.
I love you.
But he wasn't coming back, was he? Tears pricked her eyes, rolling slowly down her cheek as she rolled over onto her back, wondering if she should just give in to this grief. Perhaps that was what Galadriel and Koa had meant all along when they said there could be no future for them, because they knew they would all die there at the gates of Mordor.
"Stop," she growled to herself, pushing her palms against her eyes to stop herself from crying. Three heaving breaths and Kate flung the blankets off, grabbing her robe. This wasn't over. This wasn't the first time they'd left each other, not the first time they'd despaired, but every time they found each other again.
Legolas always came back. Aragorn always came back. Good always won, the bad guy always lost. That's how it always went, over and over again. This time did not have to be different. It wasn't over. Kate pushed the door shut and padded into the eerily quiet hall toward the healing rooms. Eowyn would be wondering where she was, what had kept her out all night. Or perhaps she hadn't even noticed.
She walked through the hall, her slippers barely making a noise as she worked to try and distract herself from the gnawing ache, a deep groaning protest that was mounting as every minute ticked by. This was different. This was new. Urgent. Desperate. Pleading.
Something is wrong.
She chewed her lip as she peered out the window, watching the last remnants of Gondor's army make the trek to Mordor. Every last soldier, marching onward to make one last stand and leaving them utterly defenseless. She hated this cloud of dread that followed her, this formidable sense of despair that rooted itself within her, flooding every thought, every emotion.
She watched the soldiers until they were no more than a thin silvery vein in the distance, rifling through her memories of dreams, assignments, anything that might give her some hope as to the outcome of today.
That is what she should have asked Koa about. She should have asked if they would win, if Frodo would succeed! Why had she been so silly? She had nothing to go on now, nothing to hold on to. No assignments, no declarations, nothing except the nagging feeling that something was wrong.
She couldn't tell if this was simply her own anxieties or a Traveler thing; this feeling was so different than every other time when things were running late. That pain was a warning, sharp and urgent, spurring her to action. This… this was different. Beyond anything she'd ever known.
What if Frodo hadn't survived? What if someone took the ring? Something in the fabric of time that had gone terribly awry? Or worse, what if they were winning… were they not meant to? Were they fated to fail all along? And then, was she simply supposed to stand by and letSauron win? She couldn't do that! She wouldn't do that, Traveler or no.
Kate grunted in annoyance, flipping her hair over her shoulders and continuing her walk to the healing halls. She was just tired. Overreacting. Frodo would succeed, he'd destroy the Ring. They'd all come back. Aragorn would be crowned King. Everything would be fine. She'd talk with Eowyn, they'd relax, and wait for the war to be over. Maybe have a drink or two. Yes, she could definitely use a drink. She rounded the corner, stopping at the door to their room and frowned.
Empty.
Kate sighed, assuming the woman had went to look for her, or got tired of waiting and grabbed her own breakfast. She headed to the wash basin, hoping the water would clean away her sense of uneasiness, and grabbed a fresh dress. A white, flowy, gauzy thing. Very feminine. Very ridiculous. But, it was clean, and Kate could not quite stomach the thought of putting on her dirty clothes from her pack just for the sake of pants.
"Maybe Legolas will like it," she said to herself, sniffing a bit at the thought. They were married now and if last night was any indication of things to come, Kate felt he wouldn't like her in any dress for quite some time. Color rose to her cheeks, and she shoved down any negative thoughts.
He was coming back.
He loved her, she loved him. Love always won, right? Right, she decided with an affirmatory nod, pulling the new dress over her and running a brush through her mused hair, deciding to leave it hanging over her shoulders. Who cared how her hair looked anyway? Not when the fate of the world was on the line.
Kate risked another look out the window, bothered by the unnerving silence that seemed to surround everything, like the world was holding its breath. Everything seemed to still, waiting.
She couldn't see anything now, just the darkened shadow that clung to Mordor and for one selfish moment she was glad she wasn't there, at the black gates. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't be there still! she shouted to herself in frustration. She was fine, finer that she should be really, not thanks to him, and more than able to fight. She'd rather die fighting out there next to people she loved then be stuck here, helplessly waiting. She suddenly understood Eowyn a lot more clearly now.
"I'm a Traveler. Shouldn't I be at all the important events?" she asked herself. "That. That was the argument I should have used with Aragorn. I need to play that Traveler card more often."
Kate walked back out into the halls, thinking Eowyn might be there, watching and waiting as everyone else was. As luck would have it, she was right, Eowyn was there but certainly not alone. She lay her head on a man's shoulder looking rather cozy. A sly smile creeped across Kate's face and she wondered briefly if this was the man she had mentioned last night. The woman had tried to be nonchalant when she asked if Kate knew of a man named Faramir, but Kate knew that look.
Best to leave them alone for now, she'll give me the details later, Kate thought, rounding the corner. She spent the next few hours pacing, wandering the halls, checking out of windows and balconies for some sort of sign.
Her body ached, pulsating with each step she took and with every heartbeat was the mantra that kept repeating in her head: Something's wrong. Something's wrong.
But what could be done? She didn't know for sure. Maybe it really was nothing, or it would right itself. Not for the first time Kate wished Nestaron had stayed, that he was here to offer any sort of advice on this at all.
Eventually Kate wandered back to the room her and Legolas had spent the night in, telling herself that some rest might help. She beckoned one of the maids, so that she might have some food sent up and then she perched herself on the settee at the balcony and waited. She pulled the robe tighter against the chill but nothing happened.
Surely something should have happened by now, right? She didn't really know what she was waiting for, just something to let her know everyone was ok.
Suddenly she crippled over as a pain like she had never felt surged through her. She gripped the edge of the wall, contorted in pain but she couldn't scream, couldn't make a sound. All she could do was let the wave roll over until at last, she could breath. Something had most definitely gone wrong.
"One thing I learned from Vairë," that familiar voice called, lazily from the doorway "is that in a tapestry every thread matters. If you pull out one, no matter how seemingly insignificant it all falls apart. So, if one wanted to prevent a certain undesirable outcome, with minimal involvement… all one need do is pull out the most insignificant thread and watch it all unravel."
Kate gasped, bending forward as another wave of pain rolled over her. She glared up at Kedron, summoning every bit of strength she had to pull herself up.
"What… did you do?" she rasped, grasping tighter to the balcony to keep her head from spinning.
"You probably don't know this, Kate, but Gollum is actually quite the key player in this little tale," he explained, stalking toward her with a satisfied smirk. "I simply pulled at his thread. It was laughably simply."
"Kedron, what did you do?" she shouted, panic clawing at her. She'd seen Frodo with Gollum in a dream, but she couldn't imagine what Gollum had to do with any of this. "Where is Frodo, where is the Ring?!" Kedron sneered, waving his hand.
"Think bigger, Kate. The hobbits are fine… but by simply removing their guide he'll have quite a bit of trouble getting there don't you think? It won't be long before the Orcs stumble on him and the fat one. All will be lost. There will be nothing left of this world, Kate," he said watching in mock pity as she writhed in pain. "Everyone you know, everyone you love will die."
"I'll fix it. I'll change it," she argued, pulling herself up again as Kedron barked out a laugh. "I'm a Traveler you idiot, I'll go back and change it."
"No, you won't. You can barely stand. No, you will sit and writhe in this pain until it's been so long the Valar are forced to allow its occurrence."
"Why? Why would you do this?" she asked as the realization sunk in that he was right. She could hardly move the pain was so great and however healthy she felt before completely evaporated. Every ache, every bruise resurfaced. Whatever magic he'd used to heal her, and she knew he had, he'd obviously rescinded. "For that Ring?"
"It's quite simple really. When I realized you'd be more challenging than I had originally thought I knew I'd need to a more dramatic means of provoking action. I did tell you not to force my hand, did I not? Did you think I'd simply forgotten all of this? That I was just saving your life because I'd had a turn of heart?" he asked, yanking her to her feet and forced her eyes to meet his. "You owe me a debt and now I intend to collect."
The door to her room fell open and a man from the kitchen, Alec, came in with the tray of food. As soon as he saw Kate pinned against the wall by Kedron he dropped the tray, and charged for Kedron in a moment of bravery. Kate tried to warn him but Kedron simply rolled his eyes. With a flick of his wrist he snapped Alec's neck and the man fell to the ground with a sickening thud. Kedron turned to her, head tilted and teeth bared in a terrifying smile.
Kate couldn't move, letting out a strangled gasp. She wanted to scream but no sound would come. Suddenly the air stirred around her, whipping her hair and when she opened her eyes she was back at the standing stones. Back where it all started for her on Middle Earth.
"How did you do that?"
"You'll learn one day, just takes a bit of practice. Now, take me back," he said, brushing his hair out of his face as he shoved her toward the stones. Kate was thankful she had the ring on as she stumbled back, falling against a tree root to avoid the stones. She wasn't sure she could handle the pain of being near the stones combined with the pain she felt now. She pushed herself up, pulling up a vein of energy as she swore at him, pushing the energy at him. It did nothing, weakened as she was and as Kate scrambled to grab more ley lines, letting the energy mount in her hands Kedron yanked her up, pulling her to him and forcing her arms to her sides. "There will be none of that, darling. You have work to do," he whispered in her ear as Kate swore at him again.
"You think I'll help you now? After what you've done? You're insane!" Kate screamed, struggling against his hold.
"Oh, I think you will," he chuckled, turning her to face him. He wanted to see that look in her eyes, that fire burn out when she realized that helping him was the only way. "You see, coming back with me is the only way to change all of this, wouldn't you agree? You can't change it now, not without me. You could have never gotten to the stones without me, you're far too weak. And when you take me back, prevent Mandos from taking that power from me, restore me back to what I once was, then you'll be free to go. You can go and rewrite history to your little heart's content and you and your Elf can live happily ever after. None of this ever has to happen."
"What's to stop me from kicking your ass afterward. From changing everything back?" Kate asked, shoving against him. Kedron sniffed.
"That would be very foolish, Kate." He said lightly, unbothered as if he'd already considered this. Lightly, he ran his thumb across her cheek. "There's no one left, darling. You lost. Was that not clear to you? He is gone. He's not coming back." His words pierced through her rage and pulled out that grief she'd tried so hard to suppress.
"You're lying," she whispered, her throat tightening as she tried to hold back tears. "You're a liar."
"Am I? You know what's happened. Something's changed. You feel that pain? That's the pain of failure. You have failed. You know it. You feel it," he whispered, his voice would have been soothing if not for the words. "Aragorn is gone, the dwarf is gone, the Elf is gone and it's only a matter of time before the Hobbit dies too. But time is one thing you do have, darling. You're The Traveler. All this grief that you feel, all this pain… it could be gone. You could bring them back. All you have to do is help. It's really such a small request, after all that you've owed me. Such an easy thing for you to do… and then it all goes back to the way it was. We both win."
Kate couldn't breathe. She heard his words, and they made sense but… could she do that? All of this, all of those lives lost was all her fault. She failed. She hadn't stopped Kedron, she never even saw this coming… what kind of Traveler was she? They were gone… tears flowed from her eyes, she couldn't hold them back anymore. They were all gone, she realized as she sunk to her knees. Pain and grief coursed through her and Kate wasn't sure which hurt more.
Had she been thinking clearly, she would have told him no. She would have found a way. She would have summoned up some strength she didn't know existed and fought. She would have known a Traveler couldn't change history to satisfy their own wants and desires, but she wasn't thinking clearly and this was not history, not yet. But if she sat here, let him trap her here then time would move on and soon it would be. She couldn't let this be fated. This would not be their end.
Kedron smiled as her shoulders slumped, and her eyes looked up to face him. She looked just as lost and hopeless as she had that night in Helm's Deep and suddenly this moment felt a lot less… satisfying than he'd imagined. That familiar pricking of guilt stirred within him as her green eyes glared at him, frosted over with tears. She looked pale, tired, heartbroken. Why should I care?! he wondered to himself, shoving aside any thoughts contrary to his plan. She was a Traveler, The Traveler. He didn't care how she felt. She was nothing. A pawn. She knew how this worked. She knew she owed him.
What she didn't know, was that he'd slowly leech that power from her as she did his bidding, with the help of Sauron, their own side deal and then he'd be rid of her. He'd be able to Travel, he wouldn't have to ration his magic, and Vairë and Mandos would realize what a mistake they had made. He'd be more powerful than any of them. Everything he'd ever wanted was right there, so close he could taste it and it had all been so easy. So laughably easy. Sure, he'd had a few hitches along the way, most of them involving that woman but she was amusing, he'd give her that. Perhaps he'd let her live, for his own entertainment.
Kate stood to her feet, her cheeks still wet and headed the stones, the buzzing filling her ears.
"And then I can go home?" she asked, her hands hovering hesitantly over the stones. Kedron came behind her, his hands over her shoulder. "I can fix what you've done… and they will all be back? He'll come back to me?"
"Of course," he purred. "If your dashing Elf Prince dies and the race of men fall again it will be by no fault of mine."
Kate nodded, slowly shrugging his hands off her shoulders. This was for the best. This was the right decision, and the sooner she got it over with the better. But then she turned, whirling to face him so quickly he nearly lost his balance.
"Then I never want to see you again. You'll leave me alone. You'll stop causing so much trouble."
"I'll be a model citizen," he said with a smile, grey eyes dancing delightedly. Kate wasn't so sure, but once she fixed everything, it wouldn't matter, right? She'd deal with him later. One thing at a time. Kate chewed her lip, not quite sure how to bring someone through. She could send someone, by accident of course, but she wasn't sure she could actually bring him… it was her understanding that he would die. Of course, if he does die from this, problem solved, right? "I've got enough magic in me that you'll carry me through just fine. No need to worry over me, darling," he said with a smile, understanding where her train of thought was leading her.
Kate dipped her chin, turning, her hands hovering over the stones. It could be over… all this pain, she'd needed him to get her here but now what?
'I'll be a model citizen.'
Except he wouldn't. He wouldn't leave her alone, he wouldn't go. He'd done all this, served this world up to Sauron on a silver platter just to get her to agree to help him and Kate was a fool to think he'd stop there. If this was him with only half his power she shuddered to think what'd he do once everything was restored to him.
"Hurry up, Kate," he urged, and rage burned white hot within her gut. He'd manipulated her, killed innocent people because he thought her too weak to fight back, to see through his lies. Perhaps she was then. Perhaps she was in over her head and maybe she'd never be as strong as Kedron… but she wasn't as weak as she thought. Pain coursed through her and hot tears ran down her cheeks. She was a Traveler. She was here for a reason, that meant something!
Kate spun around and before she could even think about what she was doing she pulled up a ley line and sent a surge of energy blasting toward Kedron with every ounce of strength she could muster.
Kedron fell back, several feet away, a yelp of surprise leaving his slack-jawed mouth. Before he could move again Kate sent another blast, dirt and rock exploding under him as he crashed into the ground. Kate grabbed another ley line, snapping it like a whip just as she had seen Hayes do, and letting it curl around his hands.
"Fix it," she growled out, stepping toward him, hands poised and ready to lash out with another line. Kedron hissed in pain as the ley lines burned his wrists, digger deeper into his flesh. But instead of anger, and rage, things Kate had expected to see, Kedron smiled.
"My, my… you have been practicing," he purred, shaking off the lines and watching them shatter. "But you're not quite ready yet, if you really wanted-"
"Shut up!" Kate shouted, pushing another blast at him, hurtling him deeper into the woods. She didn't want to hear him talk, every word out of his mouth was a lie. "We're going to fix this, set this right. You're going to do this, you have to!" she screamed, fury choking her words.
"Of course, I will," he said lightly, brushing the dirt off his clothing as he stood to his feet. "After, I collect the debt you owe me."
"No, not after, now!" she shouted, whipping up the line hoping to curl it around his throat and bring him to his knees. Kedron hoped back, evaporating the ley line with a wave of his hand and Kate watched in horror as the energy lines sank deeper into the earth.
"I'm done humoring you Kate," Kedron said through gritted teeth and in the blink of an eye he stood behind her, his breath hot against her neck. "You really think you could defeat me with these parlor tricks?" Something cold snaked its way over her, freezing her bones, every muscle, her lungs, choking out the oxygen from her. "You think you know pain? Loss? Power? You know nothing!" he seethed and Kate was thrown backwards, crashing against the rock with a sickening thud.
Her head reeled as she struggled to sit up but the dizzying sensation she felt disoriented her, and so instead she focused on coaxing the air back into her lungs, willing herself to breath.
"You are nothing. A sorry excuse for a Traveler. A cosmic mistake that you struggle to disprove even now," he seethed, hatred dripping from every word. "You should consider yourself lucky that I've chosen you. That I don't kill you now for this pathetic display of bravado. I've done a lot worse for less."
"Then why don't you just do it!" Kate screeched, slumping back against the wall of rock and feeling like a chastised child. Her head lolled to the side, looking up the hill to where the stone circle sat, the buzzing growing deeper in her ears and she could just faintly feel her fingers began to twitch. Everything hurt. Every part of her felt bruised and broken and she had tried. She had really tried and failed. She licked her lips, tasting the metallic tinge of blood on her tongue as she struggled to pull herself up but another wave of pain rolled over her and she collapsed to the ground. She didn't want to get up anymore. She was tired. Tired of hurting, tired of running, tired of fighting. She just wanted it to stop.
"What a waste that would be," Kedron said, standing over her with a bored expression across his face. He watched her for another moment, wondering if she's get up again and rolling his eyes when she did. "Give up, Kate. Be reasonable," he said, lightly batting away another burst of energy she sent his way. Kate swore at him, the words not holding the spite she'd meant them to as another wave a pain rolled over her.
"If I lose, you lose," she gasped out, rolling onto her hands and knees. Sweat dripped from her her nose, and down her face, darkening the rock under her. She wasn't sure how much longer she could last like this. This pain… she couldn't handle it for long, she was a Traveler sure, but she was only human. Kedron was immortal, as all Mair were. If she died he'd have nothing left to bargain with, and Kate could only hope another Traveler could step in and fix what she couldn't.
"No, I won't," he said simply, and suddenly Kate could breathe. She felt the pain receding, the cut on her lip healing, her head clearing. He'd healed her. She blinked, unsure of what was happening before she realized that the pain was gone. He crouched down, tilting his head to the side, speaking low and slow like she was a cornered animal. "I need you alive, Kate. I'll heal you as many times as it takes. I'll keep you here, at the foot of these stones until you feel the very moment where what I've done becomes a part of history, and everyone you love slips from your grasp. Think, Kate, really think about it. If I lose, what have I lost really? I'll keep going, I'll find another way, another traveler one day. I'm resilient. I have the time to wait. But you? You don't have the time to waste. If you don't take me back, if you insist on this ill contrived attempt at righteousness then you lose everything. They will never come back and you will be bound by every mandate you're enslaved by to ensure that what I've done stands. You'll be forced to watch me destroy everyone you love, everything you've worked so hard for and stop anyone who would seek to change that. Is that what you want Kate? Could you live with yourself if you let that happen?"
"I hate you," she seethed, as he waved his hands again and the pain came back full force, hitting her like a tidal wave. Kedron shrugged. It wasn't the first time he'd heard that, wouldn't be the last.
"Hate me all you like. But you need me just as much as I need you, darling. Now, what will it be? Side with me, help me with one small favor and then you can fix what I've done. You can set it right and be back in your lover's arms tonight… or be noble. Choose virtue and Traveler's morality and be forced to stand back and watch it all fall apart."
Kate stared up at the trees, watching the way the wind rippled through the leaves. It would have been pretty any other day but now it just seemed like they were trembling, afraid. Everything was quiet around her except for the dull roaring up the stones above her as she reached out, opening them with a wave of her hand.
Kedron watched her cautiousness, her dead-eyed stare boring into him and for the briefest moment he regretted the loss of that fire. But she'd made a decision, he knew that. He had won, so what did he care?
"Where to?" she asked.
"Get up!" Kedron hissed, shaking Kate awake, his whispers echoing around them. "What have you done? Get up."
Kate blinked, shoving him off of her as she glanced around their surroundings. It wasn't exactly where she thought they'd be and instead she found herself in a massive hallway, the dark stone soaking up every bit of light the torches burning on the walls let off. It was empty all around them save a tapestry that hung along the length of the wall, stretching further and further beyond what Kate could see.
"Where are we?" Kate whispered, standing to her feet. The pain had left her, and she breathed easier despite the concerning situation they were in now.
"Don't play stupid with me. Was this your plan, to double-cross me all along? You really think that was smart? We had a deal!" he seethed, unmoving. "Get us out of here, now!"
"Kedron, I don't have the energy to sort through your meaning, ok? Just tell me." Footsteps could be heard, slowly making their way down the hall.
He froze, mouth hanging open as real and genuine fear flashed across his face. His mind raced as he tried to think of a way to repair this but he couldn't. It was over, this plan had failed but he could still save himself, regroup and form another plan. Kedron grabbed her then, pulling her down the hall, hand clamped over her mouth to silence her shouts.
"You could have avoided all this, Kate. We had a deal. It would have been so simple," he said, his voice taunt as he dragged her down the hall like a ragdoll. They rounded the corner and finally the hallway expanded into a massive room, that same stretch of tapestry lining every dark wall.
Massive archways hung over them, the torchlights not reaching their shadows and there she saw them. A man and a woman sat in the middle of the room. The man was massive, a giant by any definition of the word with a robe of black and deep red that trailed to the floor. His face showed only mild interest as he took in the sight of Kedron dragging in the human woman and throwing her at his feet. The giant figure said nothing, only turned to his wife seated next to him.
She was smaller, only just so, with silver hair trailing down her back, an amused smirk pulling at her lips, her eyebrows arched expectantly as she peered over her loom. Kate assumed she was the one who made all of those beautiful tapestries, but she was too scared to ask. She sat on her knees, hands pressed against the stone floor shaking and willing herself not to look. She felt so small, so pathetic, so weak and so completely alone.
"I've brought you a gift," Kedron announced, stepping forward before anyone could speak. "This rogue Traveler has done what only you can do, Mandos, by sentencing another to the Void. She has taken fate into her hands over and over again, defying the laws that every Traveler must adhere to. If she were an ordinary Traveler then perhaps your great mercy could excuse this flagrant disregard for the sovereignty of the Valar, but she is The Traveler. She must abide by the laws. Be an example. How can the other be expected to abide by the laws, to follow her lead when this kind of behavior is exonerated? They will not follow her if she herself cannot be a worthy leader."
"You always had a way with words, Kedron," Vairë said lightly, a smile gracing her lips.
"Well, I am so moved by this… this disrespect, dear Vairë. Anyone who wouldn't demand justice of this woman could easily be called an enemy of the Valar. To the very inhabitants of Arda!" he said, holding out his hands toward the woman in accusation.
"And you bring this woman as a gift, why? To make amends for the damage you have done?" Mandos asked, his voice even and controlled as surprise flitted across Kedron's face.
"A test, my lord, was all it was. I merely wanted to be sure this woman took her duties as Traveler seriously. She had no idea what was going on under her very nose. How can you trust such a woman to hold such a position?" he asked, but Kate could hear the panic start to rise in his voice no matter how calm he seemed. "No, I bring you this gift out of respect for your sovereignty. Only Eru knows what she would have done had I not captured this, this Rover and brought her to you."
Kate could say nothing in response. She wanted to, wanted to defend herself and condemn Kedron for every abominable act he's committed. No words came, she couldn't summon up the will to care, not now. She had been tricked in the worst way. She was a failure. She'd lost. It was all over.
Mandos would surely punish her in some horrible way, time would carry on without another Traveler to correct what Kedron had done and she would be alone. Aragorn was gone, Gimli, the hobbits, Gandalf, Legolas… he was gone. They were all gone. She didn't care what happened now, she just hoped it would be quick.
Vairë nodded, feigning her husband's same austere expression as she left her loom and came to stand by Mandos. She stared at Kate for several moments, the human woman who was collapsing in on herself and turned to her husband.
"Yes, this is the very picture of a defiant Traveler if I have ever seen one," she said, her voice light and dripping with sarcasm. Kedron laughed good naturedly, shaking his head.
"No, no, I understand she doesn't seem like much now, but you don't know what she will do. You don't know-"
"Oh, I don't know?" she asked, interrupting Kedron suddenly. There was no longer any lightness or amusement in her tone. "I suppose then, that I am also unaware of how you manipulated her? Since the moment you first laid eyes on her, a plan formed in your mind, full of deceit and treachery. I cannot possibly know how you have manipulated every one of my Travelers in such a way, twisting and bending the truth for your own gain. I don't know how, after my husband extended mercy to you after all you had done, you still allied yourself with Melkor, with Sauron for what? The mere promise of power? Yes, guilty of these crimes she may be but it was you who played puppeteer. You who pulled the strings and now when you have caused so much chaos and damage you could no longer be ignored, you lie to our faces? Even now. You think that I do not know?"
"Tell me Kedron, do you think my wife a fool?" Mandos asked, waiting for him to compose himself. He was utterly unnerved now, but Kedron quickly backpedaled, trying to smooth it all over.
"Of course not. Her only fault is loving her Travelers so greatly she cannot see their faults."
"You do not know when to be silent," his voice thundered, shaking the room and Kedron's mouth snapped shut. "Know this, it was not for any affection I felt for you, that you were spared the same fate as Melkor that day. It was for the pity of Nienna and the foresight of my wife that spared you."
"Spared me?" Kedron spat, no longer feigning congeniality. "You crippled me. Reduced me to only a fraction of what I was and denied me what should have been mine. I could have been every bit as powerful as you."
"You are hateful and grasping and undeserving of the favor Vairë bestowed upon you."
"No, she favored the Travelers, and why? Because she could not dictate their fate like she does with everyone else? Because she can't control them? Her children, she's called them, and what does she have to show for it. Ages of rebellion, of them turning their backs on her. I would have never done that to you had you just given me that which I asked!"
"They rebelled because they were deceived, and you were instrumental in that, so blinded by jealousy and undeserved hate," Vairë spoke, looking on Kedron with sadness. "What turned your heart from me? Was it truly the desire for more power? Surely you cannot want the power she has, the burdens and sacrifice that comes with it. It doesn't compare to what you have. Put an end to this Kedron, let us have peace once more."
Kedron was silent for a long time, his ink black hair covering his face as his head bent low and his fists clenched at his sides. He might have been considering it, who knew how tired he was after so many ages. Would Vairë want to make amends even now? Could he let this go? Kate shivered suddenly, drawing his attention to the woman who was lost in her own thoughts and allowing a small moment of grief to wash over her. Rage stirred in him once more. She didn't know loss, not like him. She had no idea, and now she'd cost him his last chance to get it all back.
"The power that I had," he seethed. "The power that you took from me! You think I would just accept this fate? That I would cower under your rule and live out the rest of eternity as half of what I was? You must not know me at all if you think that," Kedron finished, laughing bitterly. Vairë hung her head, returning to her loom and Mandos stood to his feet, the torchlights on the wall flickering wildly at the disturbance.
"On the contrary, Kedron, I know you very well," Mandos said calmly, the decision made in his mind. "I know that this anger and hatred in your heart will never fade, not here, and the love my wife has for you will not change that. I cannot allow you to continue on as you have, nor will I let pity sway me. You will remain in this world no longer. You are removed, the very bonds that tie you here are cut. No longer will you grasp what little magic you are able from this world, but remain on Earth where you will live until that world dissolves or you expire. This is my judgement."
All the color drained from Kedron's face as Mandos' ruling reached his ears. There wasn't magic on Earth, not really. Plenty of visitors and Travelers but no magic, not like here. Would that be hard for him, Kate wondered, thinking of all the trouble and heartache he had caused. Good, she thought, her eyes hardening as he met hers. She hoped it was agony. But then suddenly a wolfish smile spread across his face, and he laughed, truly delighted by the scenario.
"You can't damn me without damning your precious Traveler," he said, chuckling to himself as he turned to the Weaver. "We have a blood bond." Vairë's head whipped up just then, caught off guard by the statement and rage tore across her face.
"You have no such thing! That bond cannot stand, not when you've offered her life to us. It is forfeit now."
"No, it's no," Kedron said, pulling up Kate's arm and suddenly from her flesh rippled up the outline of his lips where he kissed her wrist, peppered with burst blood vessels. "I've saved her life many times, she owes me that debt but this… I gave my own power to save her life. She would have died without me. There's always a give and take in magic, you know this, dear Vairë. I gave and now I'm taking."
"What does that mean? I'm not bonded to you, I'm married to Legolas," Kate said, speaking up for the first time since arriving, her question prompting a pitying glance from Vairë.
"A blood bond. A life for a life," Kedron explained, running a thumb along her wrist before she yanked her hand back, the bruise now fading into her skin as if it had never been there. "It's an assurance. I saved your life, now you owe me yours, several times over if we really want to be specific, but I suppose it doesn't matter now. If I die, so do you, but your years are given back to me, in repayment of your debt."
"But you're immortal?" Kate said, chin quivering.
"Not on Earth. No, Mandos has gifted me a slow, painful and agonizing death. Your world will leech every last drop of magic and energy from my bones, and you'll feel every bit of it equally, until finally you die. Then I suppose I'll be spared another what, two hundred years or so? You've been blessed with long life so I suppose I've really gotten quite lucky, haven't I?" he asked, smiling to himself as if this whole thing was being tied up perfectly for him. If he was going down, he'd take the Traveler with him.
"Did you agree to this?" Vairë asked Kate, who shook her head vehemently. "Then it is void! She made no such agreement, this it cannot stand!"
"It does not matter. Here she remains, alive. To have this bond voided would mean asking her to die. Can we ask that of her now? " Mandos asked.
"Of course, we can't!" Kedron shouted in agreement. "And now I demand justice for the lives destroyed because of her. Surely you can give me that, Mandos, hmm? Call it a parting gift if you will. Even the blessed Travelers are not spared your justice, Nestaron is living proof of that."
"What has she done that wasn't spurred on by your manipulation?" Vairë asked, incensed now. "She is learning, and learning fast, but her actions were that of one who did not know any better."
Kate couldn't help but be struck by the vast difference between Mandos and Vairë. Where she was beauty and passion, he was cold and unwavering, but not cruel just… assessing. They balanced each other perfectly.
"And yet ignorance cannot be an excuse. Furthermore, she went through the stones with every intention of aiding Kedron. Had we not stopped them who knows how far she would have gone?"
"She would have done anything I asked if it meant getting back to the Elf she loves," Kedron supplied, and Mandos nodded, knowing this to be true. Kate could make no counterclaim, she had no refute. She knew she would have, a hundred times over if she knew it meant getting Legolas back.
"The blood bond stands. That is justice enough. Give her time to finish her tasks until you can find another," Mandos said.
"It is not justice, I chose her specifically! It is not as if I'm simply choosing another Traveler. I need-" Vairë refuted, anger flaring but Mandos cut her off with a wave of his hand, silencing her.
"My ruling is final," Mandos stated as calmly as if he'd remarked on the weather. Kedron sent a sneering smile to Kate, turning to her.
"This isn't over, Kate. You're not indispensable. You think there won't be another Traveler to take your place? You think you won't be cast aside, like I am now? Don't get comfortable. The Valar help themselves."
"Enough," Mandos called and suddenly Kedron was gone, whisked away with only the echo of his words floating through the hall.
Kate stood, feeling infinitely small and still hopeless. Kedron was gone now, great, but Kate was still here. Left with this disaster and heartbreak. What now? Mandos turned, without a second glance toward her and walked down the hall, leaving Kate alone now with Vairë, who at this present moment seemed utterly miffed. Perhaps the great Mandos would be sleeping on the couch tonight.
With an exasperated sigh Vairë started unravelling the tapestry she had woven, about a foot of work had been undone. Kate had to wonder how many lives had been turned back, destroyed because of what Kedron had done. Vairë cocked her head suddenly, as if only just now remembering Kate was here and motioned for Kate to come alongside her.
"I'll fix it here, it's your job, of course, to fix it out there," she said, pulling one thread and snipping it, setting it into her lap for whatever reason Kate didn't know.
"Can it be fixed?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Vairë smirked.
"Anything can be fixed, changed. Come, look here," she said, pointing to the tapestry, the way it shimmered and shifted, like candlelight against silk. However, the main design remained the same, unchanged despite whatever variances occurred. Kate watched as she began to re-weave the main design, looking to Kate pointedly. "See? Easy."
"For you," Kate sniffed, unable to control herself and suddenly clamped her mouth shut again, looking down in embarrassment. Vairë said nothing though, unbothered by Kate's outburst and continued weaving. "I just want things to go back to the way they were supposed to be. I want to fix it."
"You do? I thought you didn't want to be the Traveler?"
"Well… I mean I doubt but… but you can't just let people ruin things like Kedron did. If all these Travelers are like Hayes then I need to be there. To protect this world. Right?" she asked, and Vairë nodded, still weaving away. She sat working quietly until she paused and turned to Kate.
"And if you restore everything, set time back to how it should be and Legolas dies in this war? If it is fated? Will you still set it right? Or will you save him?" she asked, watching Kate closely. The woman bit her lip, shifting from what foot to another. What the hell kind of question is that?
"Can I not have both?" she asked. Vairë shook her head and Kate's shoulders sagged, agonizing over this choice. It wasn't fair! Why was this the option she was given after everything, why? She should have had more time with him. This wasn't fair! But standing there, looking at the tapestry, all the lives reflected in each thread, how many would it cost her to save his life? There was always a give and take, Kedron said it himself… and if what Kedron said was true and she was dying, would she put innocent lives through whatever fate just to give herself a few years with Legolas, if that? Would she make him watch her die? She couldn't. He wouldn't want that. He'd forgiven her a lot but Kate doubted he could forgive her for that… "I-I would set it right, whatever the cost," she said, hating herself for it, hating the way those words tasted like betrayal in her mouth.
Vairë continued to stare hard, waiting to catch any trace of a lie or deceit, but she saw none. The human woman was true to her word. She'd do what needed to be done, no matter the cost. She smiled, picking up the threads again, resuming her task.
"That's why I picked you to be The Traveler, Kate Mackenzie," Vairë said. "It is so easy to be subdued, tricked into thinking that being a Traveler means having all the power, but it doesn't. It is sacrifice, something Kedron could never do. Don't mistake me, there was good in him once, I believe there still could be, one day, if given the chance… but he would not have made the choice you made. Most Travelers do not make the choice you make. It's not their fault, not really. Why wouldn't you want to save yourself the heartache and pain if the very ability to do it was held in your hands. I don't blame them… but my husband does not see things that way. Things are so black and white with him, but where would I be without him? He is not wrong, there are consequences for every action, every wrong done… he cannot allow Travelers to be free of consequences just because they are special to me. He must remain impartial. But I cannot allow them to be deceived, and they will not listen to me. Not now. They must have structure, guidance. It's why you're here."
"I don't understand," Kate muttered. "I'm just getting the hang of this, now you want me to guide other Travelers, is that what you're saying?"
"It is. You are The Traveler. Should others decide to do their own bidding, you put an end to it. You guide them, keep them from destruction. If you are there to guide them, they might not make those mistakes. Then and only then, should they still choose to disobey, to defy me, then Mandos can rightfully judge them as he sees fit," Vairë said simply. "I have given you that power over them. They will fall in line under your judgement, I trust your choices. I know you will not disappoint me."
Kate sat on the floor, her legs crossed and head in hands. This was all too much. She was barely getting the hang of being a Traveler, now she was The Traveler. This was insane! Was that why Hayes, the Traveler from Pelennor Fields had made the comment about being better? Was that what he was talking about? She didn't want this! She didn't want any of this!
"I just… I just want to go back. Is he really gone?" Kate asked after a moment. Vairë was quiet, inspecting a piece of thread, spinning it into her fingers before knitting it back into the tapestry.
"No. There is still time to set it right. Once time is righted, things will go back to what they were. None of them have to be gone."
"So then, I just have to fix it? But if Kedron is gone, shouldn't that have fixed it though?"
"He is gone from the future of this world, but he's still very much alive in the past. You'll need to see to him there should he step out of line, but he stays in the past."
"So… what? I just go back and fix it? He's stronger than me, I will lose," Kate argued.
"Perhaps. Then you will try again, until you get it right. You over complicate this," Vairë said with a dismissive wave of her hand, and pointed to a spot on the tapestry. "You can't just be stronger than Kedron. There are many stronger, more powerful than he. It's not his strength you have to defeat, it's his mind. Are you simple?"
"No," Kate retorted, crossing her arms.
"Of course not. I wouldn't have chosen you if you were. Come, sit. Weave with me," she said, patting the space on the chair next to her. Kate moved, awkwardly sitting next to this woman, this goddess she's heard so much about, feeling miniscule. Vairë turned to Kate, giving her a weak and demonstrated to Kate how to weave the design just so. Each thread, each color thrummed with life, with choices yet to be made and a future yet to be forged.
They sat that way for hours, as peace settled over Kate, and suddenly she realized she really did like this Vairë, despite all she'd heard and the bitterness that surrounded her name, Kate liked her. She could tell there was thought put into every design, every thread chosen. Each she inspected carefully, and more than a few times Kate caught a smile grace her lips, or tears fall from her eyes. Every thread cut was done out of necessity, not spite or anger. Kate couldn't help but wonder if the other Travelers would have really abandoned her, their cause, if they had met her. But still, there was one question that Kate couldn't get out of her mind as her hands slowly traced her wrist where the evidence of her blood bond had been moments ago.
"He will understand," Vairë said, divining her thoughts as she plucked a cord out and intertwined it with another. "You need not fear his disgust."
"No… I know, Legolas is more forgiving than I deserve," Kate said with a sigh, her heart clenching as his name fell from her lips.
"He will be a good husband to you."
"But for how long?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "How much time do we have?" Vairë sighed, shifting the intertwined thread outside of the tapestry and letting it hang like a tassel.
"I know it. It all depends really. Should your world drain him quicker than he thought than he might call upon your bond sooner. It could take years, ages… you might die a natural death before then."
"Or he'll kill me," Kate said wryly, thinking about having to go back in the past and deal with him.
"No, if he kills you it's forfeit and he gets nothing," Vairë said simply.
"So, to be released from this blood bond or whatever, he has to kill me?" Kate asked. The goddess shook her head.
"There is only one way to cancel a blood bond," she said, and Kate nodded her head in solemn understanding.
"Of course. With blood." A life for a life, right? Was she willing to make that kind of sacrifice?
"Blo-, no. Of course not," Vairë nose wrinkled in disgust, her amber skin looking ashen she turned a startled look on Kate. "He must release you from it! Blood, what an idea!" Kate couldn't help but roll her eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, the first in what felt like days.
"Couldn't I just save his life and call my own blood bond? Then we'd be square, right?"
"You cannot," she explained. "A blood bond is something… something for us. The inhabitants of Arda, and Travelers may not make such a trade."
"Why, because we're less than?" Kate sniffed, irritated by the notion. Did everyone really think that? Vairë's voice boomed as she turned to face Kate, her words holding more weight than Kate had heard thus far.
"You are not less than Kate Mackenzie," she said with such authority that Kate found herself sitting taller, as if she truly believed it. "In truth? I cannot see what goes on in your world, nor do I care to. So, Kedron's fate is his own now."
"Do you feel sorry for him?" Kate asked incredulously,
"Do you not?"
"Of course not! After everything… this is all his fault, how could you feel sorry for him?" Vairë smirked, and turned back to her weaving.
"The more you learn about people Kate, the easier it is to feel sorry for them." Kate said nothing, chewing her lip as she mulled that over. She didn't think she would ever feel sorry for Kedron. "He was not always the way he is now, you know."
"Well, I suppose you know him better than I do," came Kate's clipped reply. Vairë laughed.
"Yes, I suppose I do. Oh, well. It's your job to worry over the past now. Not mine," she said lightly, patting Kate's leg in dismissal. "Go correct things. You will succeed, do not over complicate things." Kate nodded, hope beginning to bloom within her. Could it really be that simple? All of this, it was almost over, just like that?
Kate turned, ready to leave when Vairë suddenly stood again, taking the clipped thread from her lap and tying it into the tassel, running her thumb along the thread for a while before she spoke again.
"I hope you will continue to make the right choices, Kate. That you will continue to use wisdom and not let your emotions govern your choices. There is so much you could do… but should you decide to take matters into your own hands… well, even I want be able to shield you from Mandos's ruling. Do you understand?" she asked as goosebumps bloomed across Kate's arm. She didn't want to think about what that meant.
"Of course."
"Good. Then go finish your tasks Kate. We'll be watching."
Kate sat atop the horse, waiting anxiously for the return of the soldiers. The sun glinted off the silver armor of the soldiers as they marched back over the plains like a beacon. Eowyn sat next to her, atop the horse and gave her an encouraging nod.
"He will return," she said, and Kate gave a small smile, wincing a bit as the action pulled at her split lip. "Have courage."
"Yeah, courage. Sure," Kate said, focusing on her breathing as she looked up toward Mordor, or rather where Mordor used to be. The Tower that had once stood high had toppled after the ring was destroyed and now all that was left was rubble. It was over and no one knew what could have been, what was only hours before. How after Kedron had been sent away she still had to go back and stop him from getting rid of Gollum, or interfering with Frodo and Sam, not once but three times. How bone tired she was. Deep down in her soul she was exhausted, but she wasn't in pain anymore, not like before. Things were as they should be now and everyone remained blissfully unaware. That was the way it should be though, Kate thought to herself, reaching down to pat the horse under her. She wasn't doing it so people knew what she'd done. She did it because that's what she should be doing, it was her job. She wanted to help people, and that's what she was doing.
Still, despite the calm that came with knowing time moved on as it should there was still the possibility that Legolas didn't make it, or Aragorn, Gimli, the hobbits, Gandalf… they might not have made it. There was no way to know for sure.
Come back. Please. Come back.
Every fiber in her being begged him to come back, and there was a small part of her felt he was alive, but she couldn't allow herself that hope. Not after everything.
Yet still they waited, all the women of Gondor and Rohan alike, sitting atop their horses in a row, waiting for the return of their loved ones. Hoping.
It felt like hours, and the sun began to sink behind the mountain's casting shadows across the plains but finally the first woman broke off driving her horse forward as her loved one came into view. And then another, and another, and still Kate waited. Even Eowyn rode off to greet Eomer. She was happy of course… but where were her men?
There! Aragorn brought up the back, keeping a watchful eye on the wounded, and all those who couldn't keep up. Kate lunged forward, racing ahead to great them and waving frantically. She felt her throat constrict and her eyes well up.
There he was, the last of her family and to think she'd almost lost him. Aragorn waved, and Kate pulled the horse to a stop, dismounting without a single bit of grace, running to her uncle. Coming up behind him was the hobbits, and Legolas and Gimli.
A large shadow fell over her and for a moment Kate's stopped for fear that it was a Nazgul, but as soon as she heard Merry and Pippin hooting and hollering she looked up to see several massive eagles, carrying something.
"Frodo! Frodo!" they screamed, and Gimli joined them and then soon the entire crowd of soldiers around them let out a shout. The joy and relief was palpable and tears sprang up anew in Kate's eyes as she took in the scene.
He made it. Frodo made it, he was alive. And Sam too, right? He had to be.
Only hours ago she'd seen a very different picture, and she'd lost everyone but not anymore. They were safe. They were alive. Legolas dismounted off his horse and ran over to Kate, a wide smile across his face like nothing she'd ever seen.
She ran, not carrying how cliché or silly she seemed, right into his arms.
"It's over, right? It's over?" she asked, breathless and half terrified that something had gone wrong.
"Yes…yes I think it is," he said, pulling her into his arms, before he kissed her, ignoring the childish cooing of the hobbits behind her. Kate's eyes scanned his face, looking for any trace of injury. "I'm fine, Kate. And you?"
"I'm fine. I'm more than fine, Legolas… I'm just… I'm so happy you're here," she cried, holding on to him as tight as she could. The sky had long grown dark now, and several torches lit the way back to Gondor. A horn rang out, victorious and the men cheered.
She wasn't a fool. There was still much to do. She was the Traveler after all, but for now? Now she would just enjoy this moment. Now she would celebrate with her uncle, her friends and her husband.
Kate lay with her head resting on his chest, listening to the rhythmic sound of Legolas' heartbeat as his hands ran through his hair.
Peace. She felt completely, perfectly at peace for the first time in as long as she could remember. She couldn't believe she had come so close to losing everything, to losing this.
It won't last. The clock is running out, a nagging voice whispered in the back of her mind, and Kate opened her eyes with a sigh. How much time would she have? How long until she started to feel the effects of the blood bond, start to feel her life start to fade away? How many more moments like this did they have left? Kate bit her cheek, stirring a bit as she struggled to find a way to tell him about all this.
"Not yet," Legolas said quietly, pulling her back against his chest. "Whatever it is… it can wait. Let us enjoy this." Kate tilted her head, up meeting his gaze with a lopsided grin.
"Is that a royal command?" she asked teasingly as Legolas made a derisive noise.
"Would you listen all the more if it were?"
"Probably not."
"I'm blessed to have such an honest wife," he said with a laugh, bringing his hands up to cup her face.
"Just trying to keep you humble," she said in response, leaning over him now, her hair hanging over her shoulders, tickling his chest.
"What would I do without you?" he asked wryly, bringing his head up to meet her lips, and as he pulled away he looked at her again, suddenly very serious as the question hung in the air, no longer a teasing remark. His thumb traced her cheeks, looking at her as if this was the last time he would ever see her and for a moment Kate wondered if he knew. Shame filled her suddenly, and she looked away, rolling over.
"Gandalf said Frodo should be waking up today. We should get ready."
"Kate."
"I'll want to check the bandaging on his finger too. The healer's here are great but I'd feel a lot better checking it myself. Don't want to risk infection."
"Kate."
"And Eowyn. I need to check on her too," Kate said, moving to stand, but Legolas caught her hand bringing it to his chest.
"Kate look at me," he said, kissing the inside of her wrist and Kate recoiled. Why was she so ashamed? It wasn't her fault but she felt so weak. If she had been stronger… if she had trained more, practiced more, she wouldn't be in this position. She was tired of having people save her life. "What is it?" he asked. The quiet moment they had together had passed.
Kate shook her head, she couldn't look at him. All this, all that they had planned, was slipping right between her fingers.
"It's… not good news."
"I did gather that, yes," Legolas said, prompting a small smile from the woman as he pulled her closer to him. "I do think I can handle it, though."
"What if I can't?" she asked, her voice quivering. Legolas ran his thumb along her hand, nodding slowly.
"Then I will help you. You are my wife, Kate, it is no small thing. We will face whatever challenge together. Do you not trust me to do that?"
"I do… but it's not that easy."
"Tell me, and I will decide that for myself," he said, kissing her softly as he waited. She wanted to run. To brush this off, bury it and never speak about it again. She was used to that, that was easy. But this was Legolas. They were married now… however long they had did she really want this thing hanging over them? How would he feel if he watched her die, slowly each day and had no idea what had happened?
So, Kate did not run. She didn't hide. She told him, everything, every horrifying detail as he sat listening, unmoving, unblinking. He gripped her hand tighter when she mentioned the blood bond, knowing what that meant. She couldn't look at him, just let the story spill out of her until she'd finished.
The silence hung between them like a wall and Kate was scared to breath, to look at him, to see his face. She didn't want to see hurt or pity or grief. She didn't want to do that to him. Nestaron was right, she would be the death of him and it was all for loving him. She gripped his hand tighter, the warmth of his hand steadying her a bit as she waited for him to process. That was his way, he needed time to process things, and she let him, waiting. But then Legolas squeezed her hand back, letting out a long sigh and turned her head to him.
"This does not have to be the end," he said. Kate blinked at him.
"Kind of does though…it's pretty cut and dry."
"No, it is not," Legolas said, chuckling. He was wildly optimistic and Kate's eyes narrowed. "I have nearly lost you, more times than I ever thought I could live through. I have watched you go through wars, be taken by Uruk Hai, be faced with this impossible task that fate has entrusted to you and after it all you are here, next to me."
"Yeah, well, I've been pretty lucky so far."
"No, it is more than luck Kate. You are strong, and brave, and intelligent and resilient. I do not believe this debt will be your end. We will fix this, we will end this and we will have our life together, however long or short that may be, but this will not be your end. Not for you."
Kate choked out a sob, curling into him as he kissed the top of her head. For him to talk about her bravery was astonishing to her. She told him about her death sentence, he knew what it meant and instead of despair he met her with hope. How did he have so much faith? Didn't he hear her?
"How are you real?" Kate asked, sniffling between sobs and poking him. "Like really? No one is that wonderful. Literally no one. You're not worried? At all?" Legolas tilted his head back, laughing.
"You must be a very lucky woman then," he teased, wiping the tears from her eyes. "No, Kate… I have many worries, many fears but I trust this. This love that we have, it is rare and precious and I do not believe the Valar are so cruel as to allow us this gift and then take it from us. They must know something we do not, and we must trust them. In the meantime, we find a way. We will find a way and I will love you for as long as we have, and even after."
A loud knock shook their door and Legolas rolled his eyes as the familiar gruff voice of Gimli leaked in.
"Ye spoiled, princeling, ye cannot still be asleep!" the Dwarf shouted, hammering on the door.
"No, just enjoying being married," Kate called out, stifling a laugh as uncomfortable silence answered her. Then she heard a grunt and grumble as Legolas gave her a dour look.
"Aye, uh, well, Frodo is waiting. Hurry up, the two of ye."
"A moment more, Master Dwarf. We are-"
"No! No, lad, spare me the details," Gimli shouted suddenly, and then they could hear his boots shuffling along the stone floor.
"We should be getting ready though," Kate said after their laughter had died down, and Legolas answered with a nod.
"Yes, we will go together," he said with a smile. "This is not the end, Kate. Not for us."
"No… no, it's not the end."
FIN.
Once again, thank you all again, for the reviews and i look forward to hearing your thoughts on this final chapter. The sequel should be posted around summertime or late spring. I'll have an epilogue posted soon. Thank you again!